Packaging device



March 6, 1934.

J. L. I-fERc-MJSQISI` PACKAGING DEVICE Filed .April 2e, 1930 4 sheets-Sheet 1 March v6, 1934. J, L. FERGUSON 1,949,536

PACKAGING DEVICE Filed April 28, 1930 4 She'e'lZS-Slwell 2 March 6, 1934. J. L. FERGUSON 1,949,536

PACKAGING DEVICE Filed April 28, 1930 y4 sheets-sheet s v March 6, 1934. '.J. l.. FERGUSON PACKAGING DEVICE Filed April A 128,` 1930 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented 1934 PACKAGING DEVICE `John Lee Ferguson, Joliet,-lll., assigner to J. L. Ferguson Company, Joliet, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Application April zs, 1930,- serial No. 447,805v

1': claims. (c1. zas- 75) My invention relates to a method of iilling packages and to package lling machines, and more particularly to machines for automatically filling packages with salt or any desired granular 5 material, with special reference to the means and method of directing the granular material into the packages and of supplying the latter to, and removing them from, the machine.'

While the word granular is used throughout the application, I desire it to be understood to include any suitable comminuted substance capable of freely running in the manner indicated. My invention is especially useful in connection with a machine whereby the material is first delivered to an automatic measuring device which accurately measures the amount requiredv for v each package, a measured amount being placed in each of a plurality of hoppers as the latter are moved consecutively adjacent the measuring godevice.

the machine, one being arranged adjacent each of the hoppers and in a position to receive the material therefrom,v during the movement of the can and its respectivehopper to a position where the illled can may be removed from the machine by a suitable take-oil mechanism.

Common table salt is ordinarily-retailed in cylindrical paper or cardboard containers or cans having a hinged spout for pouring the salt from a restricted opening in the end of the can. The hinged spout may be closed to cover the opening, and is usually sealed with transparent paper for shipment. It is desirable to iill the cans through the restricted opening and this has heretofore been very diiiicult, due to the salt piling up adjacent to and closing the opening before they can is completely illled.

. My invention also contemplates a means and method whereby the can may be completely ,'40 filled without waste and also provides means for automatically-removing the filled cans from the machine and closing the spout.

It is` not'pos'siblejin the manufacture of such spout cartons, to prevent some variation` in the 'position of the spout and the exact shape thereof,

' v a 50 consequent high wastage of material and possibility of jamming the machine My invention accordingly/provides means for insuring registration of the iilling means with all spouts even though the latter may exhibit minor variations.

" 'v The latter desirablefeature oi' my invention,

Empty cans or containers are fed into is the provision of a iloating hopper outlet means which is arranged to cooperate with `the can l spout for directing the material into the can,

and which is automatically adjustable to slight variations in the position of the spout., .This provides a iiexibility which is of considerablev ad-V vantage to the operator in inserting the cans in the machine so that the hopper outlet and can spout are in cooperative alignment. While thevembodiment shown and described 65 is especially designed for lling round cans with salt, it may be modified for use in iilling cans of Avarious shapes and sizes and any desired granular material-may be handled, and it will be ap parent to those vskilled in the art that these and other modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope oi 'the invention, and, therefore, I wish to be limited only by the scope of the prior art and by the appended claims.

Further objects and advantages will b e apparent from the following description and accompanying drawings, in which latter:

Figure 1 is a. perspective view oi a machine embodying my invention, the take-of! plate and can conveyor being removed;

Fig. 2 is' a top plan view of the take-oil mechanism;

Fig. 3- is a tiansverse section through they spout closing roller and illustrates the method o! closing the can spout during the movemento! the Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the take-oil? vmechanism, the rotatable hopper table being shown in section substantially on line 4--4 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a side elevation of one of the 'containers in cooperative relation with the lling and the 'supporting means, portions beingv broke away for better illustration; v

Fig. 6 is a perspective View of the delivery end oi the floating hopper funnel as constructed to receive the container spout; and Fig. '7 is a fragmentary view oi the en d o! one of the containers, the hinged spout being, shown incpen position.

Referring to the drawings in detail, the embodimentI shown comprises a base 1 havinga.

'centrallylocated vertical post or shaft 2 onv which is horizontally and rotatably mounted a comparativelylarge gear 3. This gear forms a ,rotatablev container conveyor and hopper table -on which a plurality of upwardly and outwardly entendinglbrackets Y4 are mounted for supporting the radially disposed hoppers 5, Figs. '1 and 4.

These hoppers are arranged adjacent each other 11 and overhanging the periphery of the gear or table 3. I

The hopper supporting gear 3 is driven from any suitable power source by means of a pulley 6 on a transverse shaft 7. A suitable transmission is provided in a transmission case 8, for driving a vertical shaft 9, on which latter is mounted a pinion 10 through which the gear 3 is driven by means of a gear 11 and a pinion 12 thereon.

The operating mechanism is supported in suitable bearings in an upwardly extending frame 13 which also supports a material-measuring device indicated broadly as 14. This measuring device comprises a plurality of tubular members 15 supported on a rotatable frame 16, which latter is driven through a suitable transmission from the shaft 9. 'A tripping device is also provided to prevent the operation of the measuring device when containers are not consecutively inserted in the machine.

The measuring device is arranged to receive the salt or other material from a convenient supply, through .an ingress pipe 17 and to deliver a measured amount, sufficient to ll a container, to each consecutive hopper as it passes under a chute 18, through which latter the material is dropped. TheA measuring device forms no part of the present application and a further description is believed unnecessary.

The hopper table 3 also forms a conveyor'for the containers 19, which in the present instance are of the usual cylindrical form, one end having a comparatively 'small rectangular opening 2D therein, which is normally closed by a sheet metal chute or spout 2l, which latter is hinged at 22 and provided with side walls 23. nturned lugs 24 provide stop means engaging inside the container when the spout is open, the rear wall 25 engaging the outside of the container and closing the opening 20 when the spout is closed. A container-supporting bracket or chair 26, Figs. 4 and 5, is mounted on each of the hopper supports 4 and provided with outwardly extending arcuate container-holding arms 27 and 28, the lower arcuate arm 28 having a cross rod 29 on which the container is angularly supported in the arcuate portions of the arms and in a position to receive the material from the hopper. The container may be supported in any suitable angular position, preferably with its longitudinal axis at substantially 30 from. the vertical.

A spout engaging funnel 30 is pivotally supported in iioating relation on the pins 31 secured adjacent the outlet end of the hopper 5, and cxtending through the enlarged holes 31a in the sides of the funnel. The outlet opening 32 conforms to and is arranged to receive and snugly engage the container spout 2l as shown in Fig. 5. Outwardly extending ears 33 assist in guiding the spout into the opening 32, a downwardly extending member 34 engaging the back wall 25 of the chute and preventing it from closing during the illing operation. A weight 35 on the funnel 30 retains the latter in engaged position, and the above-described Vmethod of supporting the oating funnel allows considerable flexibility in operation, and variation in the relative position oi the container and container spout.

The above described funnel 'and mounting therefor provides a self-adjusting arrangement whereby the containers may be easilyand quickly inserted inthe machine and the iioating funnel readily adjusts itself to direct thegranular material through the spout regardless of inaccurate positioning of the container or inaccuracy in the The weight 35 normally holds the outlet endof the funnel 30 forward' ofits loading position and the enlarged holes 31a provide a iioating bearing therefor. The outwardly extending ears 33 guide the iloating funnel to a position of aligned engagement with the spout 2l when it is placed therebetween and without the necessity for accurate positioning of the container. The funnel is pushed rearwardly as the container is p0- sitioned and swings forwardly again as the container is removed thereby providing an efiicient self adjusting device. If the operator misplaces the container to such an extent that the spout 21 is beyond the limits of self adjustment of the funnel 30, the out-turned ears 33 will slightly rotate the empty'container as it enters and the .funnel and container will cooperate for mutual self adjustment.

The hopper table, including the hoppers and containers, is rotated in a clockwise direction as indicated by the arrow in Fig. 1, and a take-off mechanism is indicated broadly as 36. The empty containers are inserted in the machine substantially midway between the take-01T mechanism and the measuring device.

The hoppers are filled during their movement under the measuring device, and the comparatively long time required for the movement oi' the container to the take-on mechanism allows I all of the material in the hopper to pam through the funnel 30 and into the can 19. l

The angular position of the container during the filling operation allows the material `to pile up in the highest corner and completely iill the container.

It will be noted that while the speed per minute vof the hopper table is comparatively slow, the number or cans iilled per minute `is relatively they will be taken oit at the rate of one per Aidler 41, pinion 42, and a gear 43, the latter being in mesh with the hopper table gear 3.

A conveyor belt 44 is mounted on a pulley 45 adjacent the take-oli mechanism. The pulley is y;

secured to a shaft 46 which is supported in a bracket 47 and may be driven from any suitable power source. A take-oit plate 44a is located substantially in alignment'with the container chairs and the conveyor belt and is arranged to receive the containers as they are raised to a vertical po'- sition and removed from the chairs 26. The

movement of the arms 38 cause the containers to be tilted to a vertical position on the supporting rods 29 and to be moved therefrom and slide over the take-oit plate and on to the conveyor by which they are carried away between the guide bars 48.

The speed of the conveyor is considerably greater than that of the' arms 38, and the containers are, therefore, quickly removed from 'engagement therewith to allow "the arms, to continue their operation being effected as indicated in Fig. 3.'

The embodiment described provides a comparatively slow speed machine with a large out-put of iilled and closed containers `per unitv of time in combination with a flexible-filling means and an eiiicient take-off mechanism.

`Having thus described my invention, what I claim and'desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A device for nlling containers with granular material comprising a container conveyor, means for supporting containers on said conveyor in an angular position relative thereto,L said containers having restricted openings adjacent their highest point, means for measuring a predetermined amount of material for eachcontainer, and means cooperative wlth each container for automatic self alignment with said restricted opening while said container is being positioned and for directing said measured material to fill said container during the movement of said conveyor. f

2. Amachine for iilling containers with granular material, comprising a continuously moving conveyor, means for disposing containers. thereon in an angular position relative to the plane o movement of said conveyor, hoppers carried by said conveyor, and freely movable means automatically cooperating with a hopper and a container while the container is being positioned for directing a predetermined amount of material by gravity from each of said hoppers into its respective container at a point adjacent the highest point of said container. Y

`ing during positioning of said container for di.

recting said material through said opening to substantially till said container. e

4. In a machine of the character described, a

4moving conveyor, means for supporting containers in an angular position thereon relative to the plane of movement of said conveyor. said containers having restrictedl ingress openings, a hopper adjacent each' container for receiving and delivering granular material, a floating funnel supportedadjacent each hopper and self adjustable with the opening in the container to direct material therefrom into said container, and means -for aligning said funnel with said restricted openmg.

5. In a device for filling containers with granular material, said containers having a restricted opening and a spout therefor, a hopper, a oat ing funnel for directing material from said hopper through said opening, said Lfunnel having an outlet arranged to receive said spout, and means on said lfunnel to prevent the movement of said spout during the nlling operation.

6. In a device for lling containers by gravity with granular material, said containers having a restricted opening and a folding vspout therefor, means for `angularly supportingsaid con-" tainer, a hopper positioned above said container.,

. i3. a oating funnel't'o direct material from said -hopper through said opening, said funnel having a side opening arrangedvto receive said spout and to be closed thereby.

7. lIn a device for iilling containers by gravity with .granular material, said containers having a restricted opening and a folding spout therefor, means for angularly supporting said container, a hopper positioned above said container, a floating funnel to direct material from said hopper through said opening, said funnel having a side' vopening arranged to receivesaid spout and to be closed thereby, and means to direct-'said spout into said side opening.

`8. In a device for iilling containers. by gravity with granular material, said containers having a restricted opening and a folding spout therefor, means for angularly supporting said container, a hopper positioned above said container, a floating funnel to direct material from said hopper through said opening, said funnel having a side opening arranged to receive said spout and to be closed thereby, means to direct said spout into said side opening, and a weight on said funnel to retain said funnel in engagement with said spout.

9. In a device for lling containers by gravity with granular material, said containers having a restricted opening and a spout therefor, a hopper, a iioating funnel supported adjacent'said hopper to ldirect material therefrom through said opening, and means for supporting a container in a position to receive said material from said funnel, said funnel having a side opening to receive said spout, said tunnel cooperating with said spout for variable alignment with said openn()v ing. Y

410. In a machine of the class described having a moving conveyor and means for angularly supporting containers thereon, a take-off device for removing the angularly dispo. ed containers therem5 A from, comprising a rotary i ember having arigularlv disposed take-oir arms thereon, for successively engaging the containers, the arms being substantially perpendicular to the ongitudinal axis of the containers only during the initial engagement therewith.

11. In a machine of the class described having a moving conveyor and means for supporting angularly. disposed containers thereon, a take-oil? device for removing angularly ydisposed containers therefrom, comprising a rotary member having angularly disposed take-off arms thereon, for successively engaging the containers, the arms during the initial engagement only being substantialiy perpendicular tothe longitudinal axis .of the containers, and a receiving conveyor ior removing the containers from engagement with said arms.

12. In a machine of the class described having a moving conveyor and means for supporting angularly disposed containers thereon, a take-oil device for removing angularly disposed containersl therefrom, said take-oi! device comprising a rotary member having angularly disposed take-oir armsthereon, for successively engaging the containers, the arms duringthe initial engagement being substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis ot the containers and arranged to move said containers to vertical position during removal from said conveyor, and a receiving conveyor for removing the containers from engagement with said arms at a speed substantially greater than the speed o! said arms.

13. In a machine of the lass described having a moving conveyor and means I orsupporting 59 angular-ly disposed containers thereon, a rotary take-off means for removing angularly disposed containers therefrom, said containers having folding spouts, arms on said take-oi! means for engaging and moving said containersto an upright position, and means for folding said spouts to closed position during the movement of said containers.

14. In a machine of the class described having a moving conveyor and means for supporting angularly disposed containers thereon, a take-ofi' Vmeans for removing containers therefrom, said moving said containers, means for removing said containers from engagement with said engaging means, and means for folding said hinged covers to close said openings during the movement of said containers.

16. A machine of the character described comprising a conveyor, container chairs on said conveyor and arranged to provide fulcrums over which said containers may be rocked during removal, and a rotatable member' having a plurality of outwardly extending arms thereon arranged Ato consecutively engage and rock said containers over said fulcrums to removesaid containers.

17. A machine of the character described comprising a conveyor, container chairs on said conveyor and arranged to provide fulcrums over which said containers may be rocked during removal, said containers having folding spouts, and a rotatable member having a plurality of anguflarly disposed curved arms arranged to consecutively engage and rock said containers over said fulcrums to a vertical position, and means for folding said spouts during movement of said con- Y tainers by said arms.

JOHN LEE FERGUSON.

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